The setting:

Set in the by-lanes of Amritsar, Manmarziyaan follows the lives of two lovers, Rumi (Taapsee Pannu) and Vicky (Vicky Kaushal). Without a care in the world, these two have eyes only for each other and stop at nothing to be with one another. While Rumi is an ex-hockey player, Vicky is a Punjabi spoilt brat and is a self-proclaimed DJ. As Rumi’s family pressures her to get married, she is adamant on marrying Vicky. But things take a U-turn when a confused and commitment-phobic Vicky develops cold feet. Along comes the ‘good guy’, London-based banker Robbie (Abhishek Bachchan) who goes against all odds to win the woman he loves. As Rumi oscillates between these two, the film unfolds a whole new perspective on relationships, emotions and love.

The Best Parts

The first half of the film is quite engaging – the unrestrained love and rollicking affair between Rumi and Vicky. There are several fun-filled moments with some kick-ass one-liners and hilarious dialogues. Writer Kanika Dhillon deserves a special mention here.

The back-to-back songs and Punjabi background scores weave the story along quite beautifully. Amidst turning Tinder dates into love and playing stalking games on Facebook, the film has a very real take on love in the digital age, without being too preachy. Despite its millennial outlook, the film manages to capture the essence of Amritsar through its lanes, ganne ke khetromances and dollops of Punjabiness.

Towards the second, half the film drags on for a bit but still keeps you hooked. There are several instances that seem unreal and far-fetched. For instance when Rumi’s middle-class folks catch her in bed with Vicky, they maintain a very nonchalant attitude. When Robbie finds out that the woman he loves is in love with someone else, he too deals with it in a very unusual manner.

Interestingly, while Rumi struggles to find out what she really wants and who she wants to be with, the film never focuses on one hero being better or worse. Rather, both Vicky and Robbie have their strong points, making it even more difficult for her to make a decision. The film is gripping till the very end and you’re unsure of what will happen next. Even with its many idiosyncrasies, Manmarziyaan leaves you with a wonderfully weird feeling.

Performances

Taapsee Pannu as the street-smart, hot-headed girl steals the show. She is fierce, bold, brazen and a delight to watch. She shares incredible chemistry with her co-stars and pulls off every emotion with ease. Her character grows on you.

Abhishek Bachchan in his character as the quiet, brooding good guy is top-notch. But his character is almost un-relatable. For a man to have that kind of patience, respect and perseverance – it’s too good to be true. Women will certainly have high expectations from a man after this film.

Supriya Says:Manmarziyaan leaves you with a wonderfully weird feeling. Watch it for a dose of messy reality and for some brilliant performances.